Themes and other things

I think one of the hardest things people ask me when they find out I'm a writer is what do I write. It's hard because I have a variety of interests and tastes, and I can't even talk about the baker's dozen of unfinished books on my laptop. I write contemporary YA. Or dystopian YA. Sci fi. Historical fiction. Christian fiction. And a little bit of romance sprinkled throughout.

I also occasionally write blog posts

When I think about the books I have written and the ones I'm still working on, I notice a trend in themes rather than types of stories. I love a good coming-of-age story, or even just one with a lot of character development. I like to write about bullying, or just good ol' good-vs-evil type stuff. I like to throw my characters into situations where they're unequipped or unwilling and they always end up better for it.

Another major theme in my books is love, and I don't mean just romantic love (though there is a lot of that, too.) I mean like friendships and family and deep bonds that last forever and ever, far past the last pages of the book. I guess I'm just a happily-ever-kind of gal and I prefer saccarine endings to, well, anything else really. Sorry, Geoge R.R.R.R.R. (how many Rs?) Martin.

I guess the next time someone asks me what I write about, I'll tell them "happy things."

Happy reading!

- Natasja

Me, Myself, And All The Other People In My Head

A post about character creation and how good characters will take over an entire project.

First off, let me just say that I do not "base my characters on people I know." To do so would inevitably land me in a great deal of trouble, especially if I kill the character you thought was written after you. If a character happens to share a certain trait with you, this is either coincidence or I might just like that thing about you. This applies to everything I write, with the exception of two short stories I wrote for two very special people in my life.

Now that I've finished my disclaimer, I can say that, yes, of course you're in my stories! Because you're a part of me, and I'm a part of each and every one of my characters. In order for you to properly enjoy a book, the characters have to feel like real people. Which means they have to have real emotions, reactions, traits, mannerisms, etc. And who better to base those things on than you?

Anyone who knows me and my writing knows that I don't write books. I write characters who happen to do interesting things. Almost all of my stories have started with at least a couple characters with interesting personalities and histories. Sometimes they become so realistic that they start doing things on their own and the next thing I know, I'm in the middle of a plot without a paddle!

 If you love a good character-based story and have a little extra time on your hands, I'm now in the midst of having Knockout Girl beta read and you are welcome to do so as well. Just click here to let me know!

- Natasja

Nanowrimo News

It's been almost three months since my last post, but fret not! I have actually been writing a more than normal amount lately and I've decided to channel my rediscovered penchant for over-writing by joining Nanowrimo 2015! This will be my fourth time trying it and I'm very excited. Last year, I didn't do it. With a months-old baby and absolutely no motivation to speak of, it was just not happening. But this year, I've got a plan.

Those of you who know me know that I am a complete pantser. Normally, I let my characters run the story and I kind of just record whatever they do and say. But this year, my characters and I have planned the story ahead of time. I decided that I didn't want to get lost fumbling around looking for something else to write. Which is also why I'm going to do something I very rarely do - write out of order. I know that's how most books are written, but believe it or not, most of my books are written in order. 

Hopefully with the changes to my own personal process for writing, I will be able to complete my challenge. Feel free to:

- Go to my Nano page and keep track of how I'm doing starting November 1st

- Sign up and write alongside me

- Ask me for a detailed synopsis and then suggest book titles

- Donate

Cheers to a great Nanowrimo 2015!

- Natasja 

10 things I've done on my journey to becoming an author

1. I once Googled "anatomy of a book" because I couldn't remember what the spine of a book was called. This is particularly embarrassing considering I'm a librarian.

2. I also once Googled what it would be like to live on a planet with two moons. I came across a lot of interesting theories and suggestions, and finally settled on something I liked.

3. I started a book with just a list of characters, after which I complained to my sister that I didn't know what to do from there. Six weeks later, I had a finished book.

4. NaNoWriMo. Enough said.

5. This:

6. I've read my own works until I felt like clawing my eyes out. If you've ever recorded yourself talking or singing and then listened back, then you can imagine that's what it feels like to read your own writing. It's awful, but also very constructive.

7. I've looked up the meanings of every name I've used in my stories (save for the ones I made up myself, of course). There's not always a useful reason for this. I'm just really into etymology.

8. Also, this:

9. I've emailed every single chapter I've ever written, one at a time, to someone who doesn't even live in the same city as me but faithfully reads every word. I've also had all of my stories read by someone else who will write extensive, helpful comments on them. Folks, if you have someone like either one of these people in your lives, I advise you to never ever let them out of your sight.

10. I've read, and read, and read, and read, and read... to avoid having to write something when I just didn't know what to write.

- Natasja

The way things are (Or why I can feel the train more than hear it)*

I realize I haven't been around much since my last post in January. Truth be told, I haven't written much of anything since then. This has got to be my lowest word count in a period since I wrote Less Than Perfect three years ago. Yup, that's right. I started writing LTP around this date in 2010 and did little of anything else until it was finished.

But lately, I've barely even looked at any of my books, let alone added much to them. Call it the winter blues, call it stress, call it poor time management. The fact is that I have been wasting a lot of my free time, something that I am loathe to admit to myself (though I feel oddly comfortable admitting in a public forum).

Fear not, however! Guilt at not letting my characters progress in their stories and not giving my readers something to read is a huge motivator for me. So I've decided not to give myself any excuses for not writing. Yes, I have to work, but so does everyone and other people find time in their lives for the things they love. Which means I have to cut out a lot of the other time-wasting things I do, pull my socks up, and get to it!

And so, with these thoughts in my mind, I will put on some motivational music and leave you with these immortal words:

 

- Natasja

*I've recently moved to an area where a train goes by quite frequently. (Although in my town, they go by pretty much anywhere, but this one is basically in my backyard). However, the tracks not being close to any roads, they never actually signal that they're coming. So every once in a while, my little slice of Heaven** turns into an earthquake zone.

**Not an actual slice of Heaven.

"Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps"

Good old William Shakespeare once wrote that in a play called "Much Ado About Nothing." The play, which could almost be called a Shakespearean version of a sitcom, isn't quite about nothing. Without giving too much away, basically there's a young couple who fall in love and another couple who are most definitely in love though they deny it thoroughly and are always at each other's throats. The young man gets some intentionally misleading information about the girl he's just fallen in love with, and he publicly slanders her and ruins her reputation on the day of their wedding. You should really read the play, but if you're not that into Shakespeare, Kenneth Branagh did an excellent job of adapting this into a movie. (I also read that Joss Whedon has a version that just came out.)

Why am I telling you about this? Because, folks, I've decided to rewrite this play for my NaNoWriMo project this year. I first fell in love with this play when I was a lot younger and I watched the movie with my parents. Though I didn't quite understand all of it (the lines are exactly as old Billy wrote them), I still couldn't help loving the characters and their plights. I've seen the movie quite a few times and read the play a couple times, and I am really excited to try to write a new version of it.

Yes, I know some of you may be groaning on the inside because you're sick of seeing old classics retold over and over. But - and excuse me for being a little hipster - this isn't Pride and Prejudice or Romeo and Juliet, it's not quite as well known and certainly not as retold. And maybe some of you are thinking that I'm cheating by using someone else's story. But I can guarantee it'll be just as hard to modernize this story as it would be to write an entirely new one. Plus, I don't think Billy will mind.

So there you have it. That is the entirety of what I'll be working on this November. Also, for those of you who would actually like to read the story while I'm writing it, Smashwords has graciously allowed us writers to use their services to show people our progress. So after I've been onto the site, I'll be posting a link to it so you can read along. I have to warn you now - when I write a rough draft, I really do mean that it's rough. So don't judge me, but I will take some constructive criticism along the way. Especially if you happen to notice I'm missing any words!

- Natasja

Things I Like To Write About

I thought, for those of you that might be even vaguely interested, I would share some of the things I like to write about. So, here is a concise list of some themes, characteristics, settings, or other elements that I like to incorporate into my stories.

Love

For anyone that knows me, they'll tell you this is a pretty major theme of mine. In fact, I told my husband the other day that I couldn't think of a single story I've written or started that "doesn't have kissing in it." This was followed with him telling me that he could only think of two books he'd read that had kissing in it - one of which was mine. I should mention, however, that I don't always write about those kinds of relationships; I also like to delve into the love shared between siblings, friends, or children and their parents. See? It's not all about kissing!

Space Ships

It may surprise you to learn that I have a special affinity for sci fi, especially really technical stuff. I love space ships, and I have to admit that I have a few stories that involve space ships or even take place on space ships. But more on that later...

Orphans

There's a special soft spot in my heart reserved for children who have no home and no family. There's something just so sad about it - it's almost callous to say that I feel very inspired by such dire circumstances. Having said that, my aim is not to make anyone feel bad, but rather, I like to explore what it would be like for such a character to not know where he or she is from and how they would deal with it.

Music
Being a music-lover and musician myself, it's only natural for me to include that in my writing. In fact, if you're looking forward to the publication of my new novel, Less Than Perfect, then you should know that there will be plenty of music involved in it. Yes, it is very difficult to write music into words, but I'm hoping I've done a good job of it. Plus, it's never really about the music itself, but about how the characters use music, how they grow in it, and bond over it.

Flaws
No one loves a perfect character. Why? Because they're boring, annoying, and generally too unbelievable to tolerate. When a character has flaws, it makes them real and more rounded. It gives them obstacles, something to overcome. In the same way, no one wants to read a perfect storyline. Sure, we all get mad while reading Pride and Prejudice, thinking, "Aren't they just ever going to get together?" But without all that tension, and the obstacles placed in their way, there would never be a good storyline. No one would read a book that simply said, "They met each other, fell in love, and then got married." Or "They found a treasure map, looked for the treasure, found it easily, and lived happily ever after." Or "He was born, lived a good, full life, and then died of natural causes." Or... I think you catch my drift.

There are other things that influence my writing, such as the town I live in, the people I know, the places I've been to, and random things I come across every day. That's not to say that any of what I write is autobiographical - and if you've read My Best Friend's Brother, then you should already know that. But it's easy to take what you know and what you've experienced and put it into a character's personality or situation.

So there you have it. A little insight into my world of writing.

- Natasja